Foot rest



. April 14, 1959 wj. AB-RAHAM 2,881,823

FOOT REST Filed Nov. 29, 1957 L mmvrox. J WH-LJANY H. ABRAHAM United States Patent Ofice FOOT REST William H. Abraham, St. Petersburg, Fla. Application November 29, 1957 Serial No. 699,805

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-169) This invention relates to an improved foot rest of the type wherein the foot-supporting component is swingable relative to the base component.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a more comfortable, practical, and eflicient device of this kind, wherein the foot-supporting component is swingable on the base component to opposite sides of a perpendicular position, and has spring means acting to return the foot-supporting component toward a rearwardly inclined vertical position whenever displaced forwardly therefrom, so that the foot-supporting component follows the movements of the feet of a user while seated in and rocking a rocking chair, especially a platform type of rocking chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated wherein the foot-supporting component is foldable flatly onto the base component, so as to form a flat, low-profile bulk, so that device can be readily stored beneath a chair or the like when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is simple in construction, composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts, and which can be made in attractive, rugged, and serviceable forms at relatively low cost, from a variety of readily available materials.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

Figure l is a schematic side elevation, showing a device of the invention supported on a floor in relation to a platform rocker whose occupant has his feet upon the footsupporting component of the device, the foot-supporting component being shown in starting position in full lines and in a forwardly displaced position in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged contracted front elevation of the device;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated foot rest, generally designated 10, comprises a fiat preferably rectangular base plate 12 having side edges 14, and front and rear edges 16 and 18, respectively.

Secured, as indicated at 20, to the top of the base plate 12 near its side edges 14 and aligned across the base plate 12 at a point closer to its rear edge 18 than to its front edge 16, are the lower leaves 22 of hinges 24, which have upstanding upper leaves 26. The top and the edges of the base plate 12 are preferably covered with a decorative sheet 28, which is suitably secured in place, as indicated at 30.

The foot rest device further comprises a foot rest component which comprises a vertical standard 32, preferably and conveniently in the form of a rectangular vertically elongated plate of the same width as the base plate 12, having side edges 34, and upper and lower edges 36 and 38, respectively, the lower edge 38 being preferably squared, to make stop engagement with the upper surface of the base plate 12, as hereinafter described. The standard 32 is preferably covered, on its front and rear sides 40 and 42, respectively, and on its edges with a decorative sheet 44.

The upper hinge leaves 26 of the hinges 24 are secured,

as indicated at 46, to the front side 40 of the standard 32 at points near to and above the lower edge 38, such that the standard 32 can occupy a slightly rearwardly inclined starting position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein its lower edge 38 rests in stop engagement upon the upper surface of the base plate 12.

Projecting laterally from and engaged with the rear side 42 of the standard 32, and spaced downwardly from the upper edge 36 of the standard, is a foot rest cushion assembly 48, which comprises a shelf 50 secured, as indictated at 52, to the standard and a cushion pad 54,

preferably of foam rubber, secured upon and coextensive with the shelf 50. The decorative sheet covering the standard 32, is brought around the cushion assembly 48,

as shown in phantom lines in Figure 1, to the rearwardly canted starting position shown in Figure 3.

66 has circumposed thereon eyes 70 having shanks 72 threaded downwardly into the base plate at points slightly forwardly spaced from the upper hinge leaves 26 of the hinges 24. The spring assembly further comprises a spring having spaced helical coils 74 which are circumposed on the shaft 66 between the yoke legs 64 and connected by a forwardly extending loop 76 which is anchored to the base plate 12, as indicated at 78. The laterally outward ends of the coils 74 terminate in upstanding arms 80 which have hooks 82 on their upper ends which are securably engaged around the front sides of Off-set portions 84 of the yoke legs 64, whereby the yoke 62 is urged in a rearward or left-hand direction, as seen in Figure 3.

The yoke 62 has on and extending between the upper ends of its legs 64 a downwardly and forwardly bowed bight portion 86. The yoke 62 is secured to the front side of the standard 32, at the ends of the bight portion 86, as indicated at 88, so that the spring assembly I normally positions the standard 32 in its rearwardly inclined starting position.

Inset in the upper surface of the base plate 12, at an appropriate distance forwardly from the pivotal axis of the standard 32, is a detent channel piece 90, secured in place as indicated at 92, into which the intermediate part I of the yoke bight portion 86 can be releasably and retainably sprung, as indicated in phantom lines in Figure 3,

so as to hold the standard 32 folded flatly onto the base a plate 12 in a storage position of the standard when the device 10 is not in use, and so that the device can be stored in an out-of-the-way position, as beneath a chair or the like.

Although I have shown and described herein a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that vany change or changes in the forms of and/ or in the rela- "tive arrangements of the component parts are contem- Patented Apr. 14, was

'Ihe spring assembly 60 comprises an inverted U-shaped substantially rigid yoke 62 having parallel vertical legs 64 which are traversed at their lower ends by a transverse pin or shaft 66 having enlarged heads 68 on its outer ends at the lat-. erally outward sides of the legs 64.. At points near to and at the laterally inward side of. the legs 64 the shaft 3. plated as being within, the scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is: 1

L In. a. foot. rest, ahorizontalbase-plate having. an upper. surface'and front andrear-edges, avertica l' standard platehavingupper and lower edges and. forward. and rear sides means hinging.the. standard plate on the base plate at. a. point intermediate the ends of thebase plate and onan. axis spaced above-the upper surface of the base plate and above the lower edge of the standard plate. whereby the lower edge of the standard plate can rest-in stop engagement upon-the upper surface of the base plate in a rearwardly inclined starting position, a rearwardly projecting foot rest assemblyon and. projecting rearwardly from said standard plate are point below and near to-the upper edge of the. standard plate, and a spring assembly secured to the base plate at a point forward of the standard. plate and-having. a. portion of said spring; assembly engaged with the standard plate and yieldably urging said standard. plate. in a rearward direction toward said starting position.-

2. In a foot rest, a horizontalbase plate having an upper surface andfront and rear edges, a vertical standard plate having upper and. lower edges and, forward and rear sides, means hinging. the standard plate on the base plate: at a point intermediate, the ends of the base plate and on an axis spaced above the upper surface of the base plate and above the lower edge of. the standard. plate whereby the lower edge of the standard plate can rest. in stop engagement upon the upper surface of the base, plate in a rearwardly inclined starting position, a rearwardly projecting foot rest: assembly on and projecting rearwardly from said stand'ardplate. at a point below and near to the upper edge-of; the. standard plate, and a spring assembly secured to the base plate. at a point forward of the. standard plate and. having a portion of said spring assembly engaged with the standard plate and yieldably urgingsaid standard plate in a rearward. direction toward said starting. position, said standard plate being swingable forwardly and downwardly onto the base plate to a folded position. against the resistance of said spring assembly, and detent means depressed in the upper surface of the base plate, saidspring: assembly having a detent portion retainably and releasably engageable with said detent means so as to hold the standard plate in its folded. position.

3'. In a foot rest, a horizontal base plate having an upper surface and front and rear edges, a vertical standardplate having upper and lower edges and'forward and rear sides, means hinging the standard plate on the base plate an axis spaced above the upper surface of the base plate and above'the lower edge of'the standard plate whereby the lower edge of the standard plate can rest in step engagement upon the upper surface of the base plate in a rearwardly inclined starting position, a rearwardly projecting foot rest assembly on and projecting rearwardly from said standard plate at a point below and near to the upper edge of the standard plate, and a spring assembly secured to the base plate at a point forward of the standard plate and having a portion of said spring assembly engaged with the standard plate and yieldably urging said standard plate in a rearward direction toward said starting position, said standard plate being swingable forwardly and downwardly onto the base plate to a folded position against the resistance of said spring assembly, and detent means depressed in the upper surface of the base plate, said spring assembly having a detent portion retainably and releasably engageable with said detent means so as to hold the standard plate in its folded position, said spring assembly comprising a transverse shaft extending across said base and secured thereto, an inverted U-shaped yoke having vertical legs havingl'ower ends journaled on said shaft, said yoke having a bight portion secured to the standard plate, said bight portion having a forwardly ex- I point intermediate the ends of the base plate and on an axis spaced above the upper surface of the base plate and above the lower edge of the standard plate whereby the loweredge of the standard plate can rest in stop. engagement upon the upper surface of the base plate in a rearwardly inclined starting position, arearwardly projecting foot rest assembly on and projecting rearwardly from said standard plate at a point below and near to the upper edge of the standard plate, and a spring assembly secured to the base plate at a point forward of the standard plate and I having a portion of said spring assembly engaged with the,

standard plate and yieldably urging said standard plate in a rearward direction toward said starting position, said standard plate being swingable forwardly and downwardly onto the base plate to a folded position against the resistance of said spring assembly, and detent means depressed, in the upper surface of the base plate, said spring assembly:

having a detent portion retainably and releasably engageable with said detent means so as to hold the standard plate in its folded position, said spring assembly comprising a transverse shaft extending across said base and. se cured thereto, an inverted U-shaped yoke having vertical, legs having lower ends journaled on said shaft, said yoke having a bight portion secured to the standard plate, said bight portion having a forwardly extending intermediate portion constituting said detent portion, and a spring act-- ing between saidv base and said yoke and urging said yoke in a rearward direction, said spring comprising spaced coils circumposed on said shaft, a forwardly extending loop connecting said coils and secured to the base plate, and upstanding rearwardly tensioned arms on said coils and bearing against the yoke legs.

5. A folding foot rest consisting of a horizontal floorengaging base plate, said base plate having forward and rear ends and an upper surface, a normally vertical standard plate having upper and lower ends, means hinging the standard. plate at. its lower end. on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the base plate, the axis of said hinge meansbeing above the upper surface of thebase plate andilthe standard plate being swingable from a ver- -.tical position to a folded horizontal position along the '50 at a point intermediate the ends of the base plate and on upper surface of the base plate, and spring means acting between the base plate and said standard plate and urging said standard plate to its normal vertical position wherein the lower end of the standard plate is in stop engagement with the upper surface of the base plate.

6. A folding foot rest according to claim 5 wherein said base plate has a detent inset in its upper surface and said standard plate has a detent element on its rear side which is engageable with said detent to releasably hold the standard plate in its horizontal folded position.

7. A folding foot rest according to claim 5 wherein said base plate has a, detent inset in its upper surface and said standard plate has a detent element on its rear side which is engageable with said detent to releasably hold the standard plate in its horizontal folded position, said spring means comprising a component secured to the standard plate, said component having said detent element thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

